We design, permit, excavate and build code-compliant basement walkouts and separate entrances across Ottawa, Gatineau and Eastern Ontario — from sloped-lot conversions to deep underpinned stairwells in the heart of the Glebe.
Basement walkouts are not basement renovations. They are foundation work. Cutting a hole in a load-bearing wall, excavating beside an existing footing, building a stairwell that holds back wet Ottawa clay, and tying drainage into a sump system that already exists — every step has to be right or the rest of the basement is at risk.
That is the only thing we do. For more than fifteen years our team has built basement walkouts and separate entrances across Ottawa, Gatineau, Kanata, Orleans, Barrhaven and the surrounding rural townships. Every project is engineered, permitted through the City of Ottawa, inspected at each stage, and warrantied in writing.
We are licensed, fully insured for foundation work in Ontario, WSIB-covered, and structural engineer-supported on every job. We handle the drawings, the permit submission, the digging, the concrete, the waterproofing, the door, and the final inspection. You get one phone number, one quote, and one team from start to finish.
We are not a renovation company that occasionally cuts foundations. Underpinning, bench footing, frost protection and load transfer are second nature to our crew.
We prepare and submit drawings, manage plans-examiner reviews, and book all City of Ottawa inspections on your behalf. You never deal with City Hall.
Frost depth in this region runs 1.2 to 1.5 metres. We dig deeper, insulate properly, slope landings correctly, and use cold-weather concrete admixtures.
Sealed landing drain, weeping tile tie-in, waterproof membrane, dimple board, and hose test before backfilling. Most walkout failures are drainage failures — ours are not.
A licensed Ontario structural engineer reviews and stamps every project. Required for any opening cut into a load-bearing wall — and included in the price.
Written, fixed-price quote before we start. No surprise change orders. 25-year structural warranty in writing, signed, and transferable to a future owner.
From permit to final inspection, one team handles it all.
The full build: excavation, footings, retaining walls, concrete stairwell, exterior door, threshold flashing, drainage, and waterproofing. Designed for sloped lots, flat lots, and tight Ottawa side-yard access.
$25,000 – $42,000Full project scope
The legal requirement for a Secondary Dwelling Unit. We cut through the foundation wall, reinforce the load path, build the stairwell, install a private door, and finish the exterior for curb appeal.
From $22,000Depending on excavation depth
If your basement is under the 1.95 m headroom required for a habitable room, we lower the floor by underpinning the foundation in stages. Often paired with a walkout for a proper apartment-grade space.
From $350/lin. ftOf foundation underpinned
Self-adhering rubberized membrane, dimple-board protection, gravel backfill, perforated weeping tile tied into your sump or storm system, and a sealed landing drain. Every walkout is hose-tested before the trench is closed.
IncludedIn walkout scope
A faster, less invasive alternative to underpinning. We pour an interior concrete bench along the perimeter that allows the floor to be lowered without disturbing the original footings. Ideal for tight budgets.
From $250/lin. ftPer linear foot
Cracked, leaking, or bowed foundations exposed during walkout work get repaired before backfill. We dig to the footing, repair the wall, apply fresh membrane, and replace the weeping tile if needed.
QuotedWith main project
Reinforced poured concrete or engineered cinder block stairwells, custom retaining walls, and code-compliant guardrails. Finished in stamped concrete, stone veneer, or smooth board-form.
IncludedIn walkout scope
Site plans, structural drawings, engineer stamps, City of Ottawa submission, plans-examiner responses, and all required inspections through to final occupancy approval. You sign once.
IncludedIn every projectPrice ranges per service, installation included. Detailed written quote in 24 hours, no hidden fees.
Excavation, footings, stairs, walls, door, drainage, waterproofing, permits, and engineering.
Foundation cut, stairwell, door install, and exterior finishing for SDU compliance.
Full foundation lowering in stages. Price depends on depth gain and soil conditions.
Interior concrete bench. Faster, less invasive alternative to underpinning.
Membrane, dimple board, weeping tile, landing drain, and hose test.
Reinforced poured concrete or engineered block with code-compliant railings.
Structural drawings, engineer stamps, City submission, and all inspections.
On-site assessment, feasibility review, verbal price range, and written fixed-price quote.
We design a walk-up stairwell with retaining walls and a code-compliant door so the basement becomes a daylighted, ground-accessed space.
Ottawa requires a separate entrance for any Secondary Dwelling Unit. We deliver the walkout that makes your apartment legally rentable.
We pair underpinning or bench footing with the walkout in a single coordinated project, so you only excavate and pour concrete once.
Walkout work exposes the foundation we are tying into. We use that opportunity to repair, waterproof, and re-drain — cheaper now than a separate dig later.
Older Ottawa neighbourhoods rarely have driveway access for full-size excavators. We use compact machines and hand-dig where needed.
Leda clay and high water tables make drainage critical. We oversize the landing drain, double-membrane the new walls, and add interior vapour barriers where needed.
Foundation work is not a renovation side-job. The model matters to your outcome.
We visit, measure, photograph the foundation, and discuss your goals. Free, no obligation. Verbal price range before we leave.
Detailed written quote listing every line item — excavation, drainage, concrete, waterproofing, permits, engineering, door, and finishes. Fixed price, no hourly billing.
We draft the drawings, route them through our engineer for stamping, submit to the City of Ottawa, respond to plans-examiner comments, and book the first inspection.
Crew arrives, protects your landscaping, excavates the stairwell, underpins if needed, cuts the foundation opening, installs reinforcement, and pours new footings. First City inspection here.
Retaining walls, stairwell construction, landing drain installation, weeping tile tie-in, waterproofing membrane, dimple board, and gravel backfill. Second inspection here.
Exterior door installed and flashed, railings go in, grade restored, final City inspection booked. You receive your written warranty, permit close-out, and the keys to your new entrance.
The City of Ottawa requires a building permit for any basement walkout — structural alteration plus new exterior egress. Permits are submitted online and reviewed by a plans examiner. Expect two to six weeks for review. Heritage districts require an additional heritage permit.
Ottawa sits in one of Canada's harshest freeze-thaw zones. Frost commonly drives 1.2 to 1.5 metres into the soil. Around an excavated stairwell, frost penetrates even deeper. Every footing we pour clears that depth, every wall is insulated, and every landing is sloped so meltwater drains.
Ottawa zoning permits a Secondary Dwelling Unit in most residential homes. A separate entrance is a core requirement. The SDU also needs minimum 1.95 m ceiling height, fire separation, and its own kitchen and bathroom. Our walkouts satisfy the entrance and egress portions of the bylaw.
Soils vary from glacial till in Kanata, to sand and gravel along the river, to sensitive Leda clay in parts of Vanier and Orleans. Leda clay shrinks, swells, and can lose strength when disturbed. We adjust shoring, drainage, and backfill specifications based on the soil at your address.
The Glebe, Sandy Hill, New Edinburgh, and parts of Westboro contain heritage homes with exterior restrictions. A walkout is still possible — usually placed on a side or rear elevation not visible from the street, using materials matching the existing foundation.
Many Ottawa homes built before 1970 sit on rubble stone or unreinforced concrete. Cutting these requires more care — temporary load transfer, clean cuts, and reinforced concrete or steel headers. Our crew has done this on hundreds of older homes in Centretown and Old Ottawa South.
15+ years specializing in basement walkouts. 400+ completed projects across Ottawa, Gatineau and the surrounding region. Foundation work is what we do every single day.
Every project engineered and stamped by a licensed Ontario structural engineer. Cold-climate detailing, frost protection, drainage design and load-transfer techniques refined over hundreds of builds.
Fully licensed Ontario contractor, WSIB covered, $5M liability insured. Permitted directly through the City of Ottawa Building Services on every job, with all inspections passed and documented.
Written fixed-price quotes, no hidden change orders, 25-year structural warranty in writing, and a long list of repeat clients and referrals from Ottawa's basement renovators and real-estate investors.
"They handled everything — drawings, permits, inspections, the whole dig. We went from a dark cellar to a finished walkout suite that our daughter now rents from us. Crew was clean, on time, and explained every step."Caroline M.The Glebe, Ottawa
"We got three quotes and theirs was the only one that included permits, engineering and a real warranty without surprise add-ons. The price they quoted is the price we paid."Daniel R.Barrhaven, Ottawa
"Tight side yard in Centretown, two old brick walls within arm's reach, and they still got it done. Used a mini-excavator and hand tools where they had to. The neighbours barely noticed."Marie-Ève L.Centretown, Ottawa
"We bought a side-split with a basement that was 6'2'' and unusable. They did the underpinning and the walkout in one project — now we have a legal SDU bringing in $1,800 a month."Jason & Priya K.Orleans, Ottawa
"Older home in Sandy Hill, rubble stone foundation, the city's heritage office involved. They prepared every drawing the heritage reviewer asked for and the project sailed through."Henry B.Sandy Hill, Ottawa
"As a renovator I sub them in on every walkout I sell. They do the dirty work properly so I never get a callback for water in the new basement six months later."Ryan T.Kanata
From tight Centretown lots to wide suburban backyards.
Top-tier walkout build. Underpinned our basement, cut the new entrance, poured stairs, waterproofed everything and finished the grading in just under four weeks. The City inspector complimented the drainage detail.
Best price of three quotes and the only one that included engineering. Crew was respectful, swept up every day and finished slightly ahead of schedule. Two winters in, no leaks.
We needed a separate entrance for a legal SDU and the permit side scared us. They handled all of it through the City and the basement passed final inspection without a single deficiency.
Hundred-year-old home, rubble stone foundation, narrow lot. They were the only contractor willing to quote it. The result is excellent — clean work, solid structure.
Call us, or send a message through the form. We respond within one business day and book free on-site assessments anywhere in the Ottawa region.